Propulsion connection for motor-vehicles



W. F. HUDSON. PROPULSION CONNECTION FOR MOTOR VEHICLES. APPLICATION FILED II/IAY I5, 1919.

UNITED STATES PATENT FF WILLIAM F. HUDSON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HUDSON MOTOR SPECIALTIES COMPANY, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A. CORPORA- TION 0F PENNSYLVANIA.

PROPULSION CONNECTION FOR MOTOR-VEHICLES.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it knownl that I, WILLIAM F. HUDSON,- a citizen of the Unilted States, residing atv the city of Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improved Propulsion Connection for Motor-Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention, generally stated, relates to motor-vehicle constructions and lhas more particular relation to means for securing propulsion means with respect to the worm- "drive of a truck. It is customary in the construction of worm-driven trucks of certain models, to couple the power transmission direct to the worm-shaft by means of a propeller shaft rigidly connected fore and aft and rigid throughout its length. Such propeller is .contained within a casing which is bolted at one end to the housing or casing containing the worm-drive andis bolted at its other end to the transmission casing. Consequently the entire connection between the transmission and the worm-drive possesses no Hexibility. Rigidity of connection is very undesirable for various reasons. As an illustration In backing a truck for loading or unloading purposes the lrear Wheels thereof frequently come in contact with a curb or the like and the jar or jolt resulting from such impact is referred to various portions of truck mechanism, caus` ing disalinement, stress, strains. and frequently breakage of parts.

It may be said to be a leading object of the present invention to provide a propulsion connection possessed of such flexibility that jars and jolts as may be referred from the rear aXle'are absorbed by the propulsion means without detrimental @Heet to the vehicle mechanism. Another object is that of utilizing the worm drive and its casing as manufactured and connecting with. respect thereto comparatively few and simple elements for attaining the results recited by the leading object whereby unskilled labor may readily effect a substitution of parts. @ther and further objects relate to the provision of flexible propulsion means connected in a new and novel manner with av worm-drive in which connection is combined efficiency, practicability and comparative cheapness with the end in View of commercially bettering truck construction.

I Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1920.

Application filed May 15, 1919. Serial No. 297,425.

For the purpose of illustrating my in vention, I have shown in the accompanying drawings two forms thereof which are at present preferred by me, since the same havel been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be vari-- ously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities as herein shown and decribed.

In practising the present invention I first disconnect from between the worm-drive housing and the transmission casing of a commercial vehicle, of certain model, the propeller shaft casing and then disconnect the propeller shaft from between the wormshaft and the power transmission. This propeller shaft is of the rigidly connected type and has splined-joint relation with the worm-shaft. With such propeller shaft and its casing removed there is left protruding from the worm-drive housing 10 the splined end of the worm-shaft. It is this projecting end of the worm-shaft with which the removed lation. l

Referring now more particularly to Fig. l ofthe drawings the roller bearings l1, in which the worm-shaft is rotatably mounted, are calculated to support or sustain the improved propulsion connection without resort to additional bearings. In order to pre-v vent 1dust and dirt gaining access -to the propeller shaft had splined-joint re# bearings l1 and to prevent the egress of Vlubricant from the worm-drive 'housing l0, a disk-like plate l2 having a central apen.

ture therethrough is fitted over the splined end 13 of worm-shaft "14 and is clamped to housing as by bolts 15.- In practice the same bolts are employed by which the propeller casing was secured `to place. The

plate 12 is preferably provided with a` washer 16 of felt or eqlvalent material. I

-neXt it over the projected end of the wormshaft a disk-like plate 17 having an elongated sleeve 18 projected therefrom there being a grooved passage therethrough for coperatively engaging with the splined portion of said worm-shaft so thatthe same-l may rotate in unison. The end of sleeve 1,8 abuts against the plate 12. To plate 17 is now clamped the propelling means which may comprise a propeller shaft 19 provided with a universal joint 20. f

Referring now to Fig. 2, of these draw.

' ings it may be found that the roller bear' ings 11 are not suliicient to bear the weight of my improved propulsion connection' in which event van additional bearing isV provided for the extended end of the vwormshaft. Also it may be found that the Shaftend is not splined but hasta plain cylindrical surface or else a squared end. `I have shown in the drawings .a squared end 21.-

Carried4 by the housing 10 'is a tubular member 22 having a lianged portion 23, bolts passing through said flanged portion `for clamping said member to said housing.. 'The part 23 functions as does plate 12 in Fig. l,

, plate 25. bviously if the projected end of within said memberv is a bearing that is, it prevents ingressof dust and dirt and prevents egress of lubricant. Fitted 24 .of any desired type. The sleeve 25, of a disk-like plate 25 which has a squared opening therethrough is fitted over the squared end of the worm-shaft so that said plate is in abuttingl relation with an end of said bearing and the free end of member 22. The propelling means, as a ropeller shaft, is clamped tothe son with said shaft in said bearing and the worm shaft is of cylindrical form, plate 25 may be xed in any appropriate manner as by a pin with respectto said shaft.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a novel and useful construction which embodiesthe features of advantage enumer- -ated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description'and while vI have in the present instance shown vand described lthe preferred embodiment thereofl which has been found in practice lto give satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood-that the same is susceptible of modiicationin various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advanta es. v Y .Wiat I claimV is:

2. In a construction of the character stated 1 a worm and its complemental shaft, a housing therefor said shaft being projected theref through, a dust guard having a sleeve fixed to said housing, a bearing insaid sleeve, a f

member provided with a'sleeve for co-actively en ging over a: portion of the projected en of saidshaft and lrotatable in uni- Pro' pulsion means Vfixed to said member.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name.

WILLIAM F. HUDSON. I 

